Cool down has people on Treasure Coast wearing jackets, less suntan lotion

Head beach lifeguard Josh Harris has switched from suntan lotion to a jacket.

And the cool-down — that could be a record 38 degrees by early Wednesday: 53 degrees lower than Sunday's record high — is numbing the spring break turnout.

On Monday his South Beach Park in Vero Beach was packed, in the parking lot and on the beach, with a record 950 people in the guarded area.

More than half ventured into the water. Parking spots were so few people resorted to illegal parking.

By Tuesday, as the cool down continued, attendance dropped as well and most people were walking on the shore or fishing from chairs as the wind chill made the actual temperature of 63 degrees feel much lower.

St. Lucie County lifeguards also saw fewer people venturing into the water Tuesday, said county spokesman Erick Gill.

"It can be shocking," Harris said of his daily ritual of diving in. Underwater temperatures are chiller than surface temperatures, which are in the upper 60s. That could drop more by Wednesday morning when the overnight low temperature is to be 38 and the daily high 66.

Bathers will have to watch out for hypothermia once they come ashore and stand in the wind.

The cold caused the Martin County Parks and Recreation Department to close Sailfish Splash Waterpark on Tuesday due to low water temperature and wind conditions.

With a water temperature of 63 degrees, officials said it was unsafe to operate the play area as it would put visitors at risk.

There has been no decision whether to close any additional days this week, which is spring break for Martin County public schools. For more information, visit facebook.com/MyMCParks or Sailfish Splash Waterpark at facebook.com/SailfishSplash.

Clear weather is predicted Wednesday through Friday and daytime high temperatures are to slowly moderate, reaching to 73 on Friday.

Away from the shore, the cool windy dry weather is aggravating the potential for wildfires. And the winds are making offshore boating conditions difficult.

Yard plants, however, are not expected to be affected by the cooler weather.

Temperatures

Sunday's 91-degree high tied a record set in 1952 in Vero Beach. Fort Pierce tied its record of 90.

Wednesday's pre-dawn low in Vero Beach is predicted to be a record: 38, five degree lower than that day's record set in 1978. Fort Pierce's prior low is 45.

Thursday's predicted predawn low of 41 would match the city's historic low set in 1971 and 1979.

So far March's overall average temperature, both day and night, is 5.7 degrees lower than normal.